Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
30 Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
